Also see this video feed from BBC News:
New Zealand Cities see most snow in 50 years
Posts Tagged ‘Kingston’
More Snow in NZ
16/08/2011NZ: Where Does the Snow Go?
14/08/2011
A few days after the storm, the snow will melt to the 500-900m level, leaving the lakeside green and lush as if no storm had ever passed this way.
The South Island at 300m does have snowstorms, – we’re in the middle of one now, see the video shot a few moments ago. But in a few days, a week at the most, this scene will probably be a distant memory. There will be green grass and sunny days – like a schizo change from dug-in to hanging out. It’s a little like the western Washington’s winters.
Last month however, we had a good storm, that sent cars skidding off the Queenstown lakeside road and as well as points south to Lumsden. The road in both directions was closed for 24hrs due to the storm, with travelers stuck at our local Kingston store/cafe, reminiscent of a treacherous day I’d had on I-80 west of Laramie, Wyoming, where I ended up waiting it out in a truckstop near Elk Mountain or Rawlins. Maybe this storm will be the same.
I was geared up, mentally, when the last one hit. I was digging in for the long haul and getting wood in near the stove, keeping ahead of the accumulation by shoveling and keep the van cleared off. It was reminding me of New Hampshire, or when I lived in Albion Basin in Alta, Utah. But then it all changed. I was all dressed up and ready for winter, and it all melted, but it didn’t in adjacent higher elevations..
There will be good skiing up high, that’s for sure.
Winter Scenes in Southern New Zealand
30/07/2011I shot most of these images within the last few days, the panorama was shot this afternoon.
Images ©Mountain Spirit Institute
Early Morning Light on Lake Wakatipu Mountains
Early Morning Light Above Queenstown, NZ
AlpenGlow on Lake Wakatipu, NZ
Clouc over the Southern Remarkables, this afternoon.
Light touching the peaks east of Lake Wakatipu
Alpenglow on high peaks, South of Queenstown, NZ
Panorama from Kingston, NZ, taken this afternoon
Taking Time for the View
15/06/2011
Remarkable Moonrise
I had an hour available on my way home after running some errands in nearby Queenstown, and thought I’d take a quick drive up the access road to the Remarkables Ski Area. Although there’s no snow on the slopes, I thought I’d have a pretty good chance of getting some evening shots. I had missed out on the night before with an incredible red sky on the waters
Alta Basin, The Remarkables, Queenstown, NZ
of Lake Wakatipu, a hue created from the Chile volcano, so thought see what I could find tonight. It doesn’t take much to make a good photo here. Just show up and point the camera, the land and light do the rest.
You might have a busy day, but take the time to get out, bring your camera or better yet, a sketch book or some water colours, or go for a climb, and take a break.
New Zealand Backcountry
28/05/2011
Mt Eyre, NZ Backcountry
I feel a backcountry ski adventure coming on. Last week I ventured out 15 minutes from our house here in Kingston, New Zealand and ended up driving down a farm road, off the nearest side canyon from the main north-south road to NZ’s southern tip. A view similar to this can be seen from the main road, but the closer I got into the back valley, following the Mataura River, I was led to this view of Mt. Eyre. This is not one of the major peaks in the area, by any stretch, but it’s close to our place and what looks like some good backcountry skiing potential. As we near winter down here in the southern hemisphere, I’ll getting my skis sharpened, this may be my a ski area of choice due to its proximity, at least to the trailhead.
Nature’s Seven Doctors in New Zeland
29/03/2011
A book for the ages
Hanging out at the Telemark Inn and Llama Farm (Newry, Maine) years ago, when I was a ranch hand, and pack guide, I came across a little book on Steve Crone’s bookshelf called “Nature’s Seven Doctors” by Kirschner and White. This little volume espoused the basics of how simple living and paying attention the basics keeps one healthy.
After the Christchurch Earthquake and all, I guess the readjustment and stress of an unplanned move had me melancholy the last few days. I went with the flow, in line with Tolle, was in accepting and allowing my state to be, I just didn’t feel at the top of my game. Even though we’ve found ourselves in a beautiful place, 7 hours south of the quake zone, it’s still been an adjustment of sorts.
Today I got it together and climbed to the top of the cliff outside our new rental home, sat for a short meditatino, and ran back down the trail, and on my way back to the house, jumped in Lake Wikatipu on lake’s southern beach. The run and dip did me good, and I’ve been reminded all day of Kirschner and White’s book. I’ve been feeling like new person all day.
The Seven Doctors are: (I usually can do this from memory, let’s see..) Fresh air, fresh water, fresh food, rest, mental/spiritual development, adequate exercise and adequate sleep. Nothing to remember really, it’s common sense.
A view of Kingston, NZ from the top of Shirttail Cliffs
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